Jackson man fatally shot while clutching his Bible

A Jackson Township man is dead after two men tried to rob him during a Bible study at a Canton home. His family and church community are struggling to come to grips with the death of the young man who held out a Bible, defying the gunman’s threat to fire.

Dale Settle Jr. held out his Bible when armed robbers approached him and two other young people arriving for a late-night home Bible study Thursday.

“In the name of Jesus, your gun won’t fire,” Settle repeated several times.

But it did.

Now the 22-year-old Jackson Township man is dead, and police are looking for his killer.

Police were called at 10:32 p.m. Thursday to the 600 block of Hazlett Avenue NW, arriving to find Settle with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and lying on the ground outside the home, said Capt. Dave Davis, who heads the Detective Bureau.

“Dale really died a martyr. The Bible says there’s no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. Dale loved us,” said a man who had been with him. The man has asked not to be named as police continue to search for Settle’s killers.

Word of the shooting spread quickly through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter as paramedics rushed Settle to Aultman Hospital.

The young man died in surgery at 5:55 a.m. Friday, said Harry Campbell, chief investigator with the Stark County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was scheduled for later in the day.

By 11 a.m., more than 70 young people had gathered at Faith Family Church, 8200 Freedom Ave. NW. Word continued to spread through Facebook and Twitter, Pastor Michael Cameneti explained.

Adam Fox, 18, and Cory Kotema, 17, were sitting in McKinley High School when Fox was alerted by a story on cantonrep.com that their friend had died. Fox sent a text message to Kotema, who was in Spanish class. Kotema said he quickly went to the school counselor’s office, saying he needed to be with his church family.

“It’s hard for us to believe that he’s dead. I mean, he’s 22 years old!” Fox said, wiping away tears.

They stood with fellow church-goers in small groups, some wiping away tears and others hugging before “Pastor Mike” prayed for God to grant comfort to Settle’s family. The pastor asked the young mourners “come out of this by serving God with more intensity,” and he prayed for the gunmen.

“We pray for the two individuals, Father God, that you have mercy on their souls,” he said.

The pastor’s wife, Barbara Cameneti, told the group when police first arrived at the scene, they found Settle praying in tongues.

“One of the police officers asked if (Dale) was speaking Spanish,” she said through tears. “He could’ve been praying for the man who shot him, for the man’s salvation.”

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The man who was with him recalled prayer.

“He was praising God and praying,” he said.

Settle’s father isn’t surprised.

“He was a born-again Christian. He loved God; he loved young people,” the elder Settle said, struggling to hold back tears. “His life was all about helping other people.”

While the Settles attended church twice a week, Settle attended three times a week, teaching younger believers, joining activities and playing volleyball with them, according to the family.

FAITH AND FAMILY

Settle had always been an active young man.

A native of Newton Falls, he played baseball from the age of 7 to 18, having played every position. He graduated in Newton Falls.

“He was an amazing son,” said his mother, Sharon Lane of Newton Falls.

Although his first years of college meant “party all the time” like a stereotypical college kid, she said, “He completely changed” when he joined the church. He began hanging out with a new set of friends, and his faith in God bloomed.

Settle had worked at the Outback Steakhouse in Cuyahoga Falls for four years before moving a few months ago to Jackson Township to live with his father and two younger siblings, his father said.

At the time of his death, Dale Settle Jr. was still employed at the restaurant’s Whipple Avenue NW location and attending the University of Akron, where he majored in business management. When he wasn’t in church or teaching church classes of 30 to 60 youngsters, he played with his younger siblings.

“He just gave his life to Jesus,” Dale Settle Sr. said, tears beginning to stream down his face. “He didn’t have time for goofing off. He was working and going to school and taking care of kids. About the only thing he did for himself was working out, the weightlifting.”

Settle is survived by his parents, step-parents, two siblings in Florida, two younger siblings in Jackson Township and four foster siblings.

While family and friends have so much to say about Settle, police say little is known about the men who killed him.

The gunman with the pistol was described as black, about 6 feet tall, thin and wearing a red hoodie, Davis said. A description of the man who was with him wasn’t available.

Police and the FBI are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Settle’s death. Davis asked anyone with information about the shooting to call detectives at 330-489-3144.